Everett Jenkins Birthday Blog

  Yesteday, I heard about the passing of James Caan https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/07/movies/james-caan-dead.html For most folks, James Caan's most memorable role was as Sonny Corleone in the first Godfather movie. However, for me, the James Caan role that brought me and a roomful of Amherst College football fans to tears was his portrayal of Brian Piccolo in the classic "Brian's Song"  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian%27s_Song Back in 1971, the basement of Pratt Dormitory had one of the few television sets on campus.  Many of the freshmen and some of the upperclassmen regularly convened in Pratt to watch Monday Night Football.  After one of the games, the Movie of the Week aired "Brian's Song", the tearful story of the friendship between a black superstar football player, Gale Sayers, and the inspirational white role player, Brian Piccolo.  The movie is arguably the greatest made for TV movie ever made. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfI_HT39eeM Th

Those who have followed my posts will note that I have a particular interest in mental health issues.  That interest is heightened during the month of July because July is National Minority Mental Health Month. https://nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Bebe-Moore-Campbell-National-Minority-Mental-Health-Awareness-Month/Learn-About-Bebe-Moore-Campbell-National-Minority-Mental-Health-Awareness-Month This year my focus is on the interesting oddity that has come to my attention concerning the prevalence of schizophrenia throughout the world.  From what I now understand the prevalence of schizophrenia is statistically the same throughout the world.  However, the severity of the illness and the societal acceptance of those afflicted with the illness varies depending upon the cultural norms that predominate with the local people.  Of particular note, in reviewing the programs presented at the May 2022 American Psychiatric Association convention held in New Orleans, I was intrigued by the

  In lieu of taking my three daughters to Alaska on the Norwegian Cruise ship that was destined to strike an iceberg,  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/norwegian-cruise-line-cruise-ship-iceberg-alaska-seattle-repairs/ I was persuaded to take them to Southern California to experience Universal Studios.  As fate would have it, this outing coincided with the historic return of Bruce's Beach to our cousins https://nypost.com/2022/07/01/bruces-beach-seized-by-la-in-1924-returned-to-black-familys-descendants/ Seizing this opportunity, I took my daughters to see Bruce's Beach on Saturday, July 2, 2022, and to celebrate its return to our distant relatives.  Upon seeing the park and its stunning view of the Pacific Ocean, and after assessing the valuation of the surrounding opulent homes, my youngest daughter remarked that the valuation of the park should be $500 million instead of the $20 million the City has offered to pay.  She may have a point, but the fact that any form of reparations